Calling all guitarists! I'm getting started - what to buy?

[pekadan]

I've decided to start learning to play electric guitar with the goal of being able to record rhythm guitar tracks for my own songs (mainly rock). I'm looking now to buy a guitar that is good for learning to play, but one also with good quality, that sounds good, so that I don't have to buy a new one when I get to the point that I can start recording my own playing. (At which point I will probably be recording my guitar tracks DI, btw, and use virtual stomp boxes, amps and cabinets - if that's info of importance at all).

Honestly, I don't know much about guitars, but the things that I think I know I'm looking for in a guitar are:

- Easy to play, good for a beginner (is there a big difference between guitars?)
- Stays in tune well
- Not overly expensive (ie good value for money is important)
- Humbucker style pickups (I suppose, for use with overdrive/dist effects later)

Also I want to have some sort of portable amp/effect box/pod type of thing to be able to practise playing outside the studio, mainly with headphones. What to get??

Can you guys help with some suggestions? I'm planning a visit to a music shop in a few days to look, feel and listen. But since I've never played, I won't trust the "feel" part of the experience very much. And being the total guitar newbie I am, I'm afraid I'll end up buying some random guitar that looks good, but that I won't be happy with in the long run. Not because the seller is stupid or doesn't care, but because I might fail to explain my needs clearly. That's why I'd like some input form you guys first! Please help (even if it's by suggesting a better forum for my question).

[angelinni]

It's quite difficult, actually. What is good for you maybe not best choice for other. So...
some things you have to keep in mind:
- Which style you try to emulate? Take a look at which kind of guitar they use. Even when a low budget won't be the same, the tone you may get has a lot to do with. For example, a les paul-like guitar is heavier than a strato.. so the sound itself has more sustain, due to wood. Which make it more suitable for bluessy sounds than heavy metal. Of course, it doesn't mean it cannot be used, is just different tone. Since you mentioned humbuckers, and talking about rythm gtr, it makes me think you are more interested in a les paul-like guitar
- Budget? A simple advice: Get the best instrument you may afford. A lot of us when go to store with money just got crazy looking at amp, fx and stuff. And then regret because some money was spent so the guitar wan't that good...
- If possible, since you don't play, go to store with someone who plays and like similar styles than you, so he can warn you if a guitar doesn't seems to be right
- As a suggestion: Stick with known trademarks: Fender, Epiphone, Gisbon, ESP, Jackson, Ibanez. I think Cort is good as well. Even if you buy a chinesse one (they are usually the cheapest) you have a better chance with one of these
- Don't get fooled by price, specially if buying the cheap one: I tested (without knowing too much) an Ibanez made in Malasya and a Fender made in Mexico, I think, Fender was 60% more expensive than Ibanez and sounds 50% worse!!! That's why you should go with someone else to advice you if something is wrong
- Check a couple of stores first. Don't buy at first attempt (unless you find an original Gibson Les Paul at sale at $100, of course

Best luck and have fun

[chroma]

can you play at all? if you can play a little, walk into a guitar store, play all the guitars in your range, and when you find one that sounds good unplugged, plug it in, try it, and if you like it, that's the guitar for you. honestly, especially at the low end, there is a lot of commonality. depending on what you are trying to play, the type of guitar may matter as mentioned above - you don't see many metalheads playing les pauls - so you could look at some bands you know and see what they play too. it has to feel good in your hands, and sound the way you expect, to really be yours. and don't forget - most guitars can be modified later if you want; you don't necessarily have to buy a whole new one.

what i'm going to say is probably heresy around here... but my (second setup that i have been learning guitar with for a few years was a used variax 300 + pod of some kind (pod x3 or hd500 recommended). the variax is great because it's relatively cheap (<$300 used these days) and can sound like a lot of different guitars... especially when you're learning, you might be trying to learn different songs by different bands who use different gear. a setup like that can be pretty close to all of them... les paul for one song, telecaster for another, rick 12 string for another, acoustic for another. it may not sound quite as good as a good real guitar, but i like the way mine sounds (i love the special!) and imho it sounds better than a lot of cheap guitars. i'm still not that good - just not a lot of time to practice, and a lot of that goes to bass guitar instead - but i haven't outgrown it yet, and as i've gotten better, the guitar sounds better too, which is how it should be.

i actually prefer amplitube to the pod, but the pod sound pretty good too, and the beauty there is that you can save the variax guitar type in the patch, so when you switch presets it switches both amp settings and guitar settings. very nice. neither of those are quite as good as the h&k crunch master i used to have, but way more convenient.

[chokehold]

Most people will tell you "don't buy cheap".

From my experience, that is the wrong attitude when you're just starting.
Obviously, you don't need "$2000 each" pro gear to find out if or if not you like playing guitar.

The thing to do is: "buy the RIGHT cheap".

First off, consult a few people you know who play guitar quite well, or ask online. Tell them what you intend to play, what you want to sound like.

Soon you'll come to a conclusion somewhere along the lines of a Telecaster style guitar probably being the best for modern crunch and spanky twang sounds, a Gibson style guitar most suited for rich Blues-y and Jazz-y clean or crunchy sounds, a Strat style guitar definitely a decent allrounder because of its versatility - but for Metal, you'll need something like an Ibanez RG or a LTD.

These are not rules, but a little guideline according to what I experienced in my last 15 years of guitaring. You may use any guitar for any style.
But, you know, there's a reason why Parkway Drive play Ibanez, why Kenny Wayne Shepherd loves his Strats and why Warren Haynes prefers Les Pauls.

Most guitar manufacturers have cheap-o labels, like Epiphone by Gibson, LTD by ESP, Squier/Squire by Fender, etc. I would advise you strongly NOT to buy the cheapest models these cheap-o labels offer, because they are usually HIDEOUS to play.
Get one or two prices upward, so not the $99 model but the $169 or $199 model.

The big secret about guitar prices is: once they're up to something around $1000, anything upward is just fetish.

Special woods, hand-crafted this, 30 year old that, exotic inlay materials, exotic shapes, and just "unnecessary" extras. Might be worth the money to an enthusiast, or maybe make it more personal or unique, but it doesn't play or sound so much better that it would justify the extra price.

It's beneath that magic $1000 line, where the prices DO matter. Every $50 a model might cost against another model of even the same manufacturer or product line can mean a significant upgrade in sound or playability.

I write CAN, because it doesn't have to be.
Paying $50 for having a tiger-optic top won't give you anything but looks, really. But paying $50 extra for a set neck rather than a bolt-on, or maybe for different pickups, or a tremolo system ... that can all mean a world of difference.

Usually a good thing to look out for is: does it offer everything?

Because if it does and it's cheap - stay away from it.
Always keep in mind the factor of the per-component cost. Especially cheap instruments with many shiny and loudly advertised components are usually the worst of all, thinking $99 eBay instruments etc.

Another important factor is the resale value.
Cheap no-name eBay instruments aren't worth the paper their bill is printed on when it finally (and let's hope not) comes to the point where you decide you don't want to play guitar after all and you want to sell the instrument.

A not-the-cheapest Epiphone, Squier, LTD, ... will ALWAYS sell for a decent price 2nd hand, given the instrument is in good shape.

So do yourself the favour to get something "rather qualitative". Not the cheapest of the lot, not $500 mid-range, but somewhere in between.

With amps, it's even more complicated.
For a start, I'd keep it simple and cheap.

The style of music you want to play isn't very important at first, just get something that does what you want. For a beginner, it's probably best to get a small transistor practising combo and a mid-range multi-FX Zoom or Korg stomp.

I know there's all the Amplitube stuff and all the simulations around, and I do use them myself occasionally. But for practising and getting to know the instrument, there's nothing like a real sound circuit and moving air.

Also, if you start with a PC amp simulation right away, you'll run into all sorts of other troubles: latency issues, humming, buzzing, etc.
And most of them will cost you extra.

Last but definitely not least: don't be fooled by the "tube" hype.
Yes, a REAL tube amp with tube preamp and high-watted tube power-amp is a DREAM to play on stage or in the studio. They sound fantastic!

But unless you can afford a REAL high-watted tube amp and unless you can actually play with it cranked up really loud - don't waste your money.

Don't buy something just because it has "tube" or "valve" written on it, again, especially not if it's cheap. The magic in tube amps mostly comes out of the tube power-amp, where the (special) tubes are driven with 110V or even more, they're really working and flexing their muscles. Tube preamps work with 12V and usually have a small 5-12V tube in there, that's just a fancy distortion device that does sound a little different from a transistor distortion devices - but it does NOT bring you THE tube amp sound.

There are small tube amps available with something around 5W or so, and yes, 5W from a tube amp are not 5W from a transistor amp, tube amps are MUCH more powerful even if the wattage is the same. Still, a 5W power-amp will NEVER produce the power and the energy and the saturation and everything else to the same extent as a cranked 100W power-amp will, so unless you want a 5W tube amp for any other reason except for being fashionable or having too much money - then also stay clear from them.

If you have it, rather invest your money in a decent transistor amp (Randall RG120!) or multi-FX pedal and a decent beginner's guitar, that'll give you way better sound than a no-name eBay instrument and a 5W "tube" amp.

[Quietinthedark]

yep buy the right cheap...

My opinion, currently it is hard to get a guitar sub $300 that will keep you happy in the long run.

In the $300-$600 range, there are very nice and subpar guitars, hence the wise advice of the poster above in taking someone without with more expertise. $600+ you TEND to have better quality control and more reliably, they will use top components, $1000+ you are mostly paying for brand names and bling.

In particular, take someone that knows how to spot neck warping, fret unevenness, tuning key stickage, neck set angle issues. These things are the real deal breakers.

Also consider that it is very easy to switch pickups. Though I have some $$$ vintage guitars, the objectively best two guitars I have are a sub $1000 dollar one and a $400 where I liked how they played, but got pickups that really matched their resonances and natural EQ better.

[tehlord]

If it helps, I'm a total novice too and I bought a Vintage V6 last year for about £80/€90/$110 off ebay. It's straight, sounds nice and I can learn on it. Reviews are pretty good too.

[Funkybot's Evil Twin]

I'd suggest checking out the "Classic Vibe" and "Vintage Modified" series Squier's. Great Strats, Tele's, Jaguars, Jazzmasters, etc. They're inexpensive, great guitars, and have thus far held resale value well. Something like a Strat is a great all-rounder, and would be easy to sell later if you ever gave up playing. Only thing with the guitars mentioned is that they're all single coils, but lots of people run single coil guitars through tons of distortion (you don't hear the noise/hum when you're playing).

I also wouldn't worry about something "holding tuning" as just about any guitar will with a proper setup and some know-how. So, when you do buy, add about $40 in to have the guitar setup. Most, if not all, new guitars need a setup to get them playing well. I would then recommend you do some research how to tune a guitar properly so it stays in tune. See something like this video:

[chokehold]

currently it is hard to get a guitar sub $300 that will keep you happy in the long run.

I do agree, but for a beginner, the "long run" shouldn't be too important.

Beginners are prone to the "hm, sounds strange, plays strange... but it must be good if XXX plays one" phenomenon, and are very liable to buy something they actually don't want "in the long run" just because it seemed a good choice at the time.

When I started out, I had to sell my guitars and buy others quite frequently until I finally found out which were the ones that "fit" me and which didn't. Until a year ago, I had a long-time relationship with my LTD Eclipse.
Now I play an Ibanez RGD and I can't at all explain why I liked the Eclipse so much anymore...
That's after 15 years of playing.
Goes to show.

So I'd advise any beginner NOT to buy a $600 guitar right away, for example a cheap Gibson Les Paul - just because one of his idols plays one, and then try to make himself work with that one guitar.

I'd much rather advise a beginner to start cheap, and rather buy/sell a few guitars over the years to find what pleases him and "works" for him as it is - because playing various models for 10 minutes each in a music store won't give a beginner the necessary "wisdom" and experience to decide what in deed IS the right thing for him.

[pekadan]

Wow, loads of excellent advice in this thread already. I'm reading everything with great interest and I'm quickly becoming much much wiser! Thanks a lot for all the input so far!!

[vurt]

if you know people who play, see if someone will loan you one for a while to see if you want to continue?
most people who play have at least a couple

[michael2]

currently it is hard to get a guitar sub $300 that will keep you happy in the long run.

I do agree, but for a beginner, the "long run" shouldn't be too important.

Beginners are prone to the "hm, sounds strange, plays strange... but it must be good if XXX plays one" phenomenon, and are very liable to buy something they actually don't want "in the long run" just because it seemed a good choice at the time.

When I started out, I had to sell my guitars and buy others quite frequently until I finally found out which were the ones that "fit" me and which didn't. Until a year ago, I had a long-time relationship with my LTD Eclipse.
Now I play an Ibanez RGD and I can't at all explain why I liked the Eclipse so much anymore...
That's after 15 years of playing.
Goes to show.

So I'd advise any beginner NOT to buy a $600 guitar right away, for example a cheap Gibson Les Paul - just because one of his idols plays one, and then try to make himself work with that one guitar.

I'd much rather advise a beginner to start cheap, and rather buy/sell a few guitars over the years to find what pleases him and "works" for him as it is - because playing various models for 10 minutes each in a music store won't give a beginner the necessary "wisdom" and experience to decide what in deed IS the right thing for him.

great points. I think a used Fender Squier is an excellent beginners guitar, get it set up right and it will last you for years. just make sure that you take it somewhere reliable and have them intonate it, set it up to play well and make sure the tuning gears will stay in tune.

[docdued]

I'd say start with one of the cheaper Ibanez guitars... something like this maybe: http://www.music123.com/guitars/ibanez- ... ric-guitar . They are usually easier to play than Squiers/Fenders which normally have a higher string action. Plus you can get them with humbuckers as well, and a decent tremolo. Great price/quality ratio imho.

[sjm]

The idea of borrowing a guitar is not a bad one. If you can't play at all, you could always ask around if someone has a spare guitar, or simply buy a dirt cheap guitar second hand until you can play a few chords. Chances are that someone you know has a guitar they aren't using lying around somewhere. Also ask non-guitar players, as a lot of people bought one on a whim when they were in their teens and gave up after 2 weeks.

If you can play a little bit, it means that when you try out the guitars in the shop, you can actually hear whether you like the sound when you play. It should only take a couple of months to be halfway decent at playing some basic chords properly. You should definitely also take someone along who knows their guitars though.

[pekadan]

Again, thank you all for your helpful suggestions!

The most common advice here is also probably the best, to involve an experienced guitarist to help me out by lending my a guitar and/or to "help me with the shopping" (wow, never thought I'd use that phrase for another 40 years!).

My problem is, where I live now, I don't know any guitarists. I do think I can ask someone for a guitar to borrow (one guitarist friend of mine actually works in a music shop, but he's a few hours away though). I do know some other musicians around here and I'll ask if they know someone. Actually, anyone here from around Stockholm? Let me know! You help me out and beer's on me!

Other than that, I know this much about myself. I need to combine this interest to learn to play the guitar with my love for making music and, well, gear lust. If I buy, or even borrow, a guitar that doesn't excite me or sounds bad when I record it, I'll lose interest. On the other hand, if I buy, or borrow, an instrument that I really love - the feel, the sound, even the looks - this will inspire me to learn how to play it. (I know this from playing the drums for many years). With that in mind, I won't follow the advice to just get something "good enough" to begin with, just to see if I like playing. I'd rather buy a guitar with great quality and good second hand value, and also one that I know will work well for my own recordings, so I can use that as my #1 goal for learning (and I'll sell it for good money if I give up anyway).

So, I've been googling and reading forums etc, looking for one or two guitars that would be "theoretically perfect" for me. I'd like to start by finding and trying these, and use them for further reference. The choice of brand I've come up with is ESP. The LTD EC series really attracts me. They seem to be very good quality, have standard profile necks, the kind of sound I'm looking for, and they look gorgeous! Comments?

[docdued]

Sure, I don't think anything can be said against ESP guitars. In absence of a guitar player in your neighbourhood you can also have a look at reviews at ultimate-guitar.com and the likes... One thing to maybe keep in mind is that ESP is mainly targeted at the hard'n heavy people (Metallica endorses them as you've probably found out by now). Don't know if that's what you are aiming for... of course you can also play softer stuff with them, but the output of the pickups will probably be on the high side (which means more distortion). But qualitywise it's definitely a choice that will keep you happy for quite some time.